Thread: Trump’s planned EPA cuts: Zero dollars for Bay Area program

Originally Posted by Miller47

Good question.

Ask the politicians who run the country.

THEY are the ones who decide to send our young men and women off on those "invasive operations".

And THEY are the ones who fund the DOD.

The DOD always wants more money...just like every gubmint agency.

I completely agree, which is why funding DOD is probably too generous--not because the military doesn't "deserve" it but because the bigger and better the tool, the harder it is to leave it unused.

Originally Posted by Miller47

Both parties are guilty of that.

And we all know it.

Republicans are demonstrably worse. They spend more while lowering taxes. At least Dems raise taxes in an attempt to fund the appropriations they create.

Originally Posted by Rasselas

Republicans are demonstrably worse. They spend more while lowering taxes. At least Dems raise taxes in an attempt to fund the appropriations they create.

Can't disagree completely.

But, BOTH sides are guilty of excessive spending, well beyond our means.

Just look at the last 8 years, when the debt nearly doubled.

Not all Obama's fault, but he has to take his share of responsibility for that.

Originally Posted by Rasselas

I completely agree, which is why funding DOD is probably too generous--not because the military doesn't "deserve" it but because the bigger and better the tool, the harder it is to leave it unused.

Every gubmint agency wastes money.

The DOD could and should be cut back on funding just like all the rest of them.

Originally Posted by Rasselas

Doesn't really matter. The point is the same. A well-prepared military is actually a negative when politicians don't use them well. And the better the military is, the greater the temptation to use them badly.

We have to have a "well-prepared military".

It is like an insurance policy for the nation: gotta have it, but hope you don't have to use it.

We just have to hope that the politicians use them well, not badly.

We hope...

Everybody wants more. THERE IS NO MORE. Look at our debt level. Look at our yearly deficits. We not only don't have more to give, at our current tax levels we can't even sustain what we've been spending.
So kudos to Trump for fiscal responsibility. Everyone wants to bash him for his business bankruptcies while suggesting he continue a trend toward bankrupting our nation.
I don't have all the answers, but I do know our current trend is unreasonable.

Originally Posted by Miller47

We have to have a "well-prepared military".

It is like an insurance policy for the nation: gotta have it, but hope you don't have to use it.

We just have to hope that the politicians use them well, not badly.

We hope...

Here's the thing--we control 48% of all military power on the globe. We spend more than the next 6-7 countries combined. When you spend THAT much for something, it's hard not to use it. And Trump wants to spend more.

Originally Posted by Rasselas

Here's the thing--we control 48% of all military power on the globe. We spend more than the next 6-7 countries combined. When you spend THAT much for something, it's hard not to use it. And Trump wants to spend more.

That's because America is the "Worlds Policeman"...whether you or I like it or not.

That comes with a hefty price tag.

I like America being the strongest military power on earth.

We could cut back a little and still maintain that status.

Originally Posted by metheron

Everybody wants more. THERE IS NO MORE. Look at our debt level. Look at our yearly deficits. We not only don't have more to give, at our current tax levels we can't even sustain what we've been spending.
So kudos to Trump for fiscal responsibility. Everyone wants to bash him for his business bankruptcies while suggesting he continue a trend toward bankrupting our nation.
I don't have all the answers, but I do know our current trend is unreasonable.

"THERE IS NO MORE". Absolutely correct.

There was no more 5 years ago.

And, what did we do? We kept borrowing and spending.

There was no more 10 years ago.

And what did we do? We kept borrowing and spending.

What are we going to do now in 2017? Keep borrowing and spending.

The inmates are running the asylum and have been for quite some time now, and I do not see that changing anytime soon.

Originally Posted by Miller47

That's because America is the "Worlds Policeman"...whether you or I like it or not.

You have to ask the question "Is that sustainable indefinitely?"

That comes with a hefty price tag.

I like America being the strongest military power on earth.

We could cut back a little and still maintain that status.

I think history shows that any great power runs into the problem of affordability. What we should shoot for is a world of regional powers that are not existentially hostile to each other.